Compare towns
Ashfield vs Petersham vs Truro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Truro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashfield | Petersham | Truro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Highest |
1,185Lowest |
1,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+22.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4 47% above MA |
56.3±2.7Lowest 41% above MA |
64.1±5.8Highest 60% above MA |
| Truro and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Petersham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.6%±10.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Truro and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±5.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Truro and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$118,984±$72kHighest 14% above MA |
| Truro and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30k 29% below MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$888,200±$117kHighest 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
— |
| Petersham and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$3,997Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Truro and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24%±6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.2%±22.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Truro and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Petersham | Truro |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.